Workers represented by Teamsters Local 700 at the Cook County Forest Preserves have ended a 16-day strike after reaching a new labor agreement with management, officials announced Wednesday. The strike, which began on August 17, involved approximately 230 maintenance, conservation, and programming employees who perform essential duties such as road clearing, equipment and trail maintenance, building cleaning, and trash removal across the district’s 70,000 acres. The work stoppage concluded just before the Labor Day weekend.

The new contract, which runs through the end of 2027, includes several improvements but does not alter the existing wage scale—a core issue raised by the union. Under the agreement, workers will receive a total of 8% wage increases spread over two years, along with a one-time payment of $2,500 for full-time employees and $1,250 for seasonal staff. Additional provisions address scheduling, paid lunch and rest breaks, enhanced overtime pay, and reduced weekend responsibilities for resource management personnel. The contract also introduces seniority-based shift selection for landscaping maintenance employees and guarantees overtime for workers who labor six or seven consecutive days, as well as full retroactive pay for seasonal employees.

“This agreement makes significant gains on wages and working conditions,” said Local 700 President Ramon Williams, noting that union members had sought respect and fair treatment as skilled public employees. Vice President Anthony McGee highlighted that despite no changes to the pay scale structure, other contract provisions signal a notable concession by Forest Preserves management.

The district’s leadership maintained that further wage scale modifications would necessitate increasing public fees, reducing services or restoration efforts, or pursuing property tax hikes through a referendum. General Superintendent Adam Bianchi stated that the final agreement responds to union demands while preserving the district’s fiscal sustainability. “We are eager to have all our dedicated employees together again to meet our shared mission,” he added.

The pay scale issue had been a significant contention point throughout negotiations. Williams had previously pointed out the disparity in salary progression compared to other county employees, citing an example in which office secretaries receive nearly a 5% raise between their first and second years, while laborers within the preserves receive only 0.5% increase for the same period.

McGee underscored that the wage scale concern remains unresolved and anticipates it to be a focal point in the next bargaining cycle set to commence in 2027. He described the strike as “absolutely worth it,” emphasizing that the district’s concessions on critical issues demonstrated the union’s growing leverage. He asserted the matter of wage progression “will be brought up again and again until a resolution is met,” and asserted that workers are prepared to take further job actions if necessary.

During the strike, the Forest Preserves remained open to the public. The recent labor dispute represents the largest under Superintendent Bianchi, who assumed his role last year. Employees are scheduled to return to work on Thursday.